Hurricane Bailey and Tropical Storm Brooke

I am sure everyone out there is well aware of ALL the awful named storms that have been going on this hurricane season. The weather man is always on the television and I don't know about everyone else, but it totally fascinates me. Maybe because I grew up in an area where hurricanes were as common as tying your shoe. We never really worried about them much. We were always excited to hear that one was on the way. The officials would cancel school and work and we would throw a big hurricane party!
But according to my mommy, "Times are different now!" I blame it on the Doppler technology. Now that we can see it coming for weeks in advance, it just makes it bigger and scarier. And I guess that "global warming" or whatever is causing bigger and better storms each year!
What a mess for the people along the coast to be going through. It really is such a nerve racking experience...Will it come or not?...Will the damage be minor or killer?...Will it be the BIG ONE that totally wipes out everything?
Even as I type this Baton Rouge is still completely in the dark and without LIGHTRICITY (that's how Brooke says electricity) and under curfew.(No one can be on the streets after 8:00PM or they'll throw you in the slammer!) Momma says it is like a war zone. And now Ike is heading that way. (or some way) It just totally stinks!
Brooke has been so sweet worrying about all of her family in Baton Rouge. Every time the news comes on she'll listen and say, "Oh no that hurricane is gonna get my Mimi!" And then she'll call and check on her and have big talks. She even instructed her once to get in the hallway and get quiet when the storm comes...I have no idea where she got that from. Mimi thought it was great advice except for the fact that she doesn't even have a hallway!
Anyway, with all this talk of storms, it occurred to me that I have been dealing with my own little hurricane and tropical storm right here in good 'ole Birmingham, Alabama.

She sure looks like a cute little innocent baby, nothing to get alarmed about. Little did I know that when I snapped this picture this morning that there was a baby hurricane in the forecast!
Who am I kidding...Hurricane Bailey has been hitting daily for over a month now!

How sweet, the girls are having bible study...
the calm before the storm!

Oh no, can you hear it? The winds are really starting to kick up now!

The first of the outer bands head straight for the living room!

Next, Hurricane Bailey moves on to the kitchen. I guess you would call her a Category 1.

A category 1 kicks around a lot of debris, but no real damage is done. ;-)
(BTW, she tried out everyone of the cups~couldn't figure our why they were ALL EMPTY)

The heavy circulation causes tornadic activity right on top of the guest half bath.

She stalls out and shows no sign of dissipation!!!

And finally~the eye of the storm is here! Praise be...let's just hope the north east side of the storm is much calmer than the ladder.

Evidently, I wasn't aware that the storm had passsed right through one of my house plants earlier in the day!

And yes, as a matter of fact, she did nap with this bark in her mouth for I don't even know how long!

The northeast quadrant does seem to be a little calmer...I think she is slowing down to mere tropical storm speeds now. Its hard to do much damage with a trash can on your head!

Sure is an interesting season around here...love it though...debris and all!

Thank you God for my Hurricane Bailey and Tropical Storm Brooke...

For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:1

She Does Not Eat the Bread of Idleness...

It seems like ages since I was either pregnant, nursing, or recovering from surgery and I have not felt up to it, but y'all...lately I have been getting some stuff done around here!

I am caught up on my laundry. I don't know how I got so many loads behind, but just the other day, I did about 6 loads of washing, drying, folding, and putting away~all in one day! Whew!

I have been cooking some delicious garden fresh meals! (I'll post about my new favorite dish later.)

And I have been organizing like crazy.
I am cleaning out drawers and closets and actually trying to get rid of some stuff. I have a tendency to hoard,(like those crazy ladies on Dr. Phil;-), but I have recently raided my closet of ANY and ALL maternity clothes (woo hoo), I have put away all winter stuff (upstairs), and have reorganized my closet back into a normal condition. After two big loads of "stuff '' for Goodwill you can actually see the FLOOR of my closet. (Mommy, aren't you proud!)
I have it back to my usual arrangement of cover ups, then sleeveless prints, sleeveless solids~grouped by color, short sleeved prints, short sleeved solids~groups by color, Capri's, pants and then dresses. On the other side, I have ALL my tanks and t-shirts up top and bathing suits, skirts, and handbags all color coordinated on the bottom.


The girls have also been such big helpers lately. Brooke's favorite "chore" is using the swifter sweeper vac.
If you don't have one, scrounge up 30 bucks an invest in one. It is AWESOME! It is like a broom, dust buster, and a dust mop all in one. We love ours and use it EVERYDAY(I think Brooke actually throws crumbs on the floor just so she can sweep them back up.)

It has been great feeling up to doing chores again.(well kinda sorta~you know what I mean)

The Proverbs 31 Woman:

An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
(rare, precious)
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
(trustworthy)
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
(kind)
She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
(works joyfully)
She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
(goes extra mile to get choicest goods~Do you think the king's mother meant going all the way to Whole Foods? And with the price of gas?)
She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
(disciplined)
She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
(enterprising, prudent with money)
She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
(energetic)
She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
(good steward)
She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
(diligent)
She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
(compassionate, generous)
She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
(provident)
She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
(elegant)
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
(influential)
She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
(industrious)
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
(poised)
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
(wise)
She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
(manages her home)
Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
(praiseworthy)
"Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all."
(distinguished)
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
(God-fearing)
Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.
(honored)
~ Proverbs 31:10-31

OK so I pretty much managed to get my home in some type of order lately...now what about the other 20 characteristics of the Proverbs 31 lady? I guess I better keep trying.

Anyway, let me know what cleaning aids you have around and can't live without???